About R&R Motorsports

STARTING OUT

Ray Bonthron began working on and racing cars at a young age, helping his father who owned a gas station and convenience store. Ray worked on his friend’s cars along with his 1970 Boss 429 Mustang which he began to drag race in 1974. (He also owned a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang, which he bought as a road race car, and switched it to a street car before switching back to a road race car. But that’s another story.)In 1980, Ray formed a partnership with Larry Teter and created Auto Marine Engines in Algonquin, IL. They primarily built engines for street rods and muscle cars as well as engines for big offshore boats on Lake Michigan. They also built engines for truck-pulling teams such as Orange Krush, Blue Max, Stainless Steel and Three Stooges.

During this time, Ray competed in various racing series and was the driver behind a diverse variety of vehicles including:

Sunbeam Harrington LeMans

Sebring Sprite

Sunbeam Tiger

289 and 427 Cobra

Formula 5000

Boss 302 Mustang

Corvette Roadster

Greenwood Corvette

1990’s stock car

1980’s and 1990’s Mustang and Camaro T/A and IMSA cars in vintage racing

STARTING OUT

Ray Bonthron began working on and racing cars at a young age, helping his father who owned a gas station and convenience store. Ray worked on his friend’s cars along with his 1970 Boss 429 Mustang which he began to drag race in 1974. (He also owned a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang, which he bought as a road race car, and switched it to a street car before switching back to a road race car. But that’s another story.)In 1980, Ray formed a partnership with Larry Teter and created Auto Marine Engines in Algonquin, IL. They primarily built engines for street rods and muscle cars as well as engines for big offshore boats on Lake Michigan. They also built engines for truck-pulling teams such as Orange Krush, Blue Max, Stainless Steel and Three Stooges.

During this time, Ray competed in various racing series and was the driver behind a diverse variety of vehicles including:

Sunbeam Harrington LeMans

Sebring Sprite

Sunbeam Tiger

289 and 427 Cobra

Formula 5000

Boss 302 Mustang

Corvette Roadster

Greenwood Corvette

1990’s stock car

1980’s and 1990’s Mustang and Camaro T/A and IMSA cars in vintage racing

R&R StartS THEIR ENGINES

In 1992 Ray founded R&R Motorsports providing services including full race engine building, at-track support for vintage and pro racers, and custom fabrication and restoration. The business quickly grew and in 1994 R&R Motorsports expanded to an 8,000 sq. ft. shop in Benton, IL.

All the while, Ray continued his passion for racing, competing in vintage, SCCA GT-1, IMSA and Trans Am series. He began sharing driving duties, and was the crew chief, in the IMSA GTS class with Trent Terry in 1994 and 1995 before focusing solely on crew chief duties in the Trans Am series in 1996 and 1997. He’d go on to work with Dan Gurney and his 1970 ‘Cuda and Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Boss 302 Mustang.

R&R Motorsports StartS THEIR ENGINES

In 1992 Ray founded R&R Motorsports providing services including full race engine building, at-track support for vintage and pro racers, and custom fabrication and restoration. The business quickly grew and in 1994 R&R Motorsports expanded to an 8,000 sq. ft. shop in Benton, IL.

All the while, Ray continued his passion for racing, competing in vintage, SCCA GT-1, IMSA and Trans Am series. He began sharing driving duties, and was the crew chief, in the IMSA GTS class with Trent Terry in 1994 and 1995 before focusing solely on crew chief duties in the Trans Am series in 1996 and 1997. He’d go on to work with Dan Gurney and his 1970 ‘Cuda and Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Boss 302 Mustang.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

At this time, Ray’s son William began working at R&R Motorsports.Growing up in a racing family, William knew what he wanted to do from day one. From the age of 10, you could find William at the R&R Motorsports shop watching and learning from his father. By age 13, William was spending any free time in the shop taking engines apart and cleaning parts. He was also at the track gaining valuable experience. While in high school, William began to learn about the business side of racing. Once he graduated high school, William was in the shop full-time and hasn’t looked back since. At a young age of 23, William’s fabrication skills and race car knowledge are impressive. However, to this day he continues to learn.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

At this time, Ray’s son William began working at R&R Motorsports.Growing up in a racing family, William knew what he wanted to do from day one. From the age of 10, you could find William at the R&R Motorsports shop watching and learning from his father. By age 13, William was spending any free time in the shop taking engines apart and cleaning parts. He was also at the track gaining valuable experience. While in high school, William began to learn about the business side of racing. Once he graduated high school, William was in the shop full-time and hasn’t looked back since. At a young age of 23, William’s fabrication skills and race car knowledge are impressive. However, to this day he continues to learn.

r&r goes full throttle

Over the next decade R&R Motorsports continued to grow and add to their arsenal of professional services.

2006 – 2008: Expanded their shop footprint by over 6400 sq. ft., allowing them to better serve more customers and their vehicles.

2006: A Chassis dyno was added to the shop, which they have since tuned and improved horsepower on almost every year/make/model.

2013: Engine dyno was added to the shop allowing the R&R team to break in and tune the engines they build and service.

2014: A second truck and trailer was added to their fleet to support to the increase in demand for at-track services.

Today you will find the R&R team working hard in their shop and at the race track providing the best at-track services in the country.

r&r goes full throttle

Over the next decade R&R Motorsports continued to grow and add to their arsenal of professional services.

2006 – 2008: Expanded their shop footprint by over 6400 sq. ft., allowing them to better serve more customers and their vehicles.

2006: A Chassis dyno was added to the shop, which they have since tuned and improved horsepower on almost every year/make/model.

2013: Engine dyno was added to the shop allowing the R&R team to break in and tune the engines they build and service.

2014: A second truck and trailer was added to their fleet to support to the increase in demand for at-track services.

Today you will find the R&R team working hard in their shop and at the race track providing the best at-track services in the country.